Tourist Attractions - The Cedars

Other sites to explore:

  1. Qadisha Valley: Within this area are rivers, springs, waterfalls, caves and other natural formations as well as rock-cut churches, monasteries and interesting villages to visit.

  2. Diman: The summer residence of the Maronite Patriarch since the 19th century. The site overlooks the Monastery of Qannoubin, an early seat of the Patriarchy.

The Cedar is the historic symbol for Lebanon and was often referred to in ancient scripts as a catalyst of trade among civilizations and had played a very important role in the cultural and the economy of Lebanon.
Over time different rulers such as the  Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians depended on Lebanon for their wood supply to build their civilizations. This exploitation of the Cedar Forests had dramatic effects on the presence of the Cedar Tree today. Although several attempts were made to preserve the forest, only isolated patches remain for the Lebanese people.
   
Cedar Trees can be found today at different locations in Lebanon, including Horsh Ehden Nature Preserve, Hadeth al-Jubbeh, and Tannourine.
Cedars as old as 350 years are also located in a grove deep in the Shouf district on top of Mount Barouk.
Hundreds of young Cedar trees have been planted in other sites during the last 30 years, but at a growing rate of 1 cm a year, it will take many more years for these trees to turn into a sizable forest.
   
Arz el Rab or "Cedars of the Lord", are the most famous Cedar Trees and can be found in Bsharre. Around 375 cedars of great age stand in a sheltered pocket of Mount Makmel.
Some of them have reached a height of 35 meters and their trunks are between 12 and 14 meters.